I think it would be useful if the parameter "radeon.modeset=0" would be added to the kernel's option when a user chooses "Safe Settings" in the boot menu of the live cd.

I couldn't get a xserver without that option with my Radeon HD 4670.

devil

Post subject: RE: Live CD boot options Posted: 17.11.2010, 23:47

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as it only applies to some cards and the situation is improving, i dont think that would be useful.

greetz
devil

slh

Post subject: RE: Live CD boot options Posted: 18.11.2010, 00:21

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We have pretty broad coverage of different radeon chipsets (r100-r6xx) in our development team, no one of us has ever (since radeon/ intel KMS became stable, so at least within this year) encountered these problems, neither with radeon (and missing firmware), nor intel graphics. So far we have no idea what triggers it - and why we aren't affected in tests on our own hardware. In most cases of problems, KMS related problems on radeon hardware vanish, once the (strongly recommended) firmware-linux-nonfree gets installed and the system rebootet without these kernel parameters.

Generally speaking, KMS is an important feature for modern graphics drivers like xserver-xorg-video-intel or xserver-xorg-video-radeon and is increasingly becoming mandatory for these chipsets alltogether, as functionality previously done in userspace is getting moved into the kernel (and provided by KMS). With the next version of intel drivers for example, KMS cannot be disabled anymore at all (without KMS being active, the driver fails to load and falls back to VESA - which is really not wanted); radeon is following the same path. This said, KMS should never be disabled - or if doing so is unavoidable for installing, it should be rechecked again after installing missing firmware for radeon - or in regular intervalls (after upstream kernel- or X.org upgrades), Contradicting advice is misleading at best and dangerous looking at the future upgrade path (rather short term (~6 months at most), even).

HennR

Post subject: Re: RE: Live CD boot options Posted: 18.11.2010, 12:01

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slh wrote:

With the next version of intel drivers for example, KMS cannot be disabled anymore at all (without KMS being active, the driver fails to load and falls back to VESA - which is really not wanted); radeon is following the same path.

Well, that's exactly what I want if I am booting a system that does not has a working OS installed so I can't check online which parameters I have to add to fall back to VESA...

well, even at home aptosid (or any other OS) on a usb-pen is helpfull.
and outside the house you i often work on (broken) systems i dont know.

greetz
devil

HennR

Post subject:Posted: 18.11.2010, 20:27

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Sorry, my comment was a bit rude.

I think you misunderstood my point, it's aptosid (no matter if it's on a CD or a USB stick) which does not boot and which I need the radeon.modeset=0 parameter for, that I can't lookup online because aptosid doesn't boot.

devil

Post subject:Posted: 18.11.2010, 21:47

Joined: 2010-08-26
Posts: 491
Location: Berlin
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thats why, as emergency, an OS on a usb-pen will get you online

greetz
devil

HennR

Post subject:Posted: 18.11.2010, 22:54

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No, it does not, because that is the system that does not have a xserver without the graphics driver parameter...

(assuming I don't want to use lynx)

HennR

Post subject: Re: RE: Live CD boot options Posted: 20.11.2010, 13:23

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slh wrote:

We have pretty broad coverage of different radeon chipsets (r100-r6xx) in our development team, no one of us has ever (since radeon/ intel KMS became stable, so at least within this year) encountered these problems, neither with radeon (and missing firmware), nor intel graphics.